Wellness drinks have become increasingly sophisticated, but sometimes what we really want is simply something cold, fizzy and enjoyable. Singapore-founded functional beverage brand Curated Culture is betting that the two do not have to be mutually exclusive with the launch of Refresh, a zero-sugar prebiotic soda built around familiar Asian flavours.
Now available at 7-Eleven outlets across Singapore, Refresh comes in Lychee and Calamansi, with each 245ml can containing 5g of Fibregum, a plant-based soluble dietary fibre made from acacia gum, and 30 calories. The idea is deliberately straightforward: take the pleasure of a fizzy soft drink and add a little more functionality to the everyday ritual.
The brand calls it “the happier soda” — a drink designed for the less glamorous but very recognisable moments of daily life. Think an icy can after picking up lunch from the hawker centre, a mid-afternoon break between lectures, or something to sip before heading to the gym.
“We have always wanted to make it easier for people to take that first step towards living healthier,” said Curated Culture co-founder Christian Eviston-Putsch. “For us, that starts with making something people actually look forward to drinking, without thinking of it as a special lifestyle adjustment that they need to make in order to live healthier.”
Rather than leaning into the berry, citrus or botanical flavours that have become familiar in the functional drinks category, Refresh looks closer to home. The launch range begins with Lychee, bringing a floral sweetness to the soda, and Calamansi, which offers a brighter citrus profile. Peach and Mango are also part of the wider range and will be introduced at later dates.
The flavours are designed to feel immediately familiar to Singaporean and Asian palates, while the format gives them a more contemporary twist. Refresh is also zero sugar and caffeine-free, with no artificial flavourings or preservatives. It is vegan-friendly and JAKIM Halal-certified, while xylitol is used as its sweetener.
The most interesting part of the launch is not what is inside the can, but how Curated Culture wants people to try it. The brand has partnered with 7-Eleven on a series of monthly S$1 promotions running from September 2026 through February 2027 at participating stores. The first offer features Refresh Lychee from 23 September to 6 October, followed by Refresh Calamansi from 21 October to 6 November, with new flavours to be introduced through subsequent promotions.
At its regular retail price of S$2.50 to S$3 per can, Refresh sits within the growing functional beverage category. But the limited-time S$1 deals are intended to make trying something new a little less of a commitment.
It also reflects the philosophy behind Curated Culture: that healthier choices are more likely to become habits when they fit naturally into everyday life rather than feeling like a lifestyle overhaul.
That idea has been part of the company since the beginning. Curated Culture was founded in 2021 by Christian Eviston-Putsch, Shermaine Heng and Sew Shu Wen, who met at the National University of Singapore. Christian brought a business background to the team, while Heng and Shu Wen trained in food science.
An early experiment helped shape the company’s thinking. After developing a plain, unsweetened probiotic green tea, the team created a sweeter, sugar-free version at the request of an adviser looking for Chinese New Year gifts. When the adviser returned asking for more, the founders took note.
The lesson was simple: functionality might get someone interested, but taste and enjoyment are what encourage them to come back. Refresh takes that principle into a new category, combining the science of prebiotic fibre with a format that is familiar, convenient and, importantly, enjoyable.
The key functional ingredient in Refresh is Fibregum, a soluble dietary fibre derived from acacia gum. Each can contains 5g. Prebiotic fibre serves as food for beneficial bacteria already present in the gut, supporting gut health. The relationship between the gut and brain — commonly referred to as the gut-brain axis — is also an area of ongoing research, which has helped fuel wider interest in the connection between digestive health and overall wellbeing.
For Curated Culture, that connection fits neatly into its broader approach to functional beverages: looking at wellness not as a collection of strict rules, but as something that can be incorporated into ordinary routines.
Refresh is the latest addition to Curated Culture’s existing range of functional drinks. Its Recover iced tea is designed around post-workout moments, combining BCAAs, electrolytes and postbiotics. Relax, meanwhile, contains live probiotics and 300mg of ashwagandha root extract, created for winding down.
Refresh occupies a different space. Carbonated rather than still, and centred on prebiotic fibre rather than post-workout recovery or relaxation, it is intended for those in-between moments when you simply want a drink that feels like a treat.
That distinction is important to the brand. Instead of asking consumers to change their routines dramatically, Curated Culture is looking for ways to make small, familiar rituals work a little harder.
With Lychee and Calamansi available now, and Peach and Mango arriving in the coming months, Refresh is making a case for a different kind of wellness drink — one that does not ask you to give up the small pleasures of soda in order to make a slightly more considered choice.
Sometimes, the first step towards a healthier routine can simply be something that tastes good enough to reach for again.
Refresh Lychee and Calamansi have rolled out progressively at 7-Eleven’s Singapore outlets from 1 September 2026, retailing from S$2.50 to S$3.00 per 245ml can. New flavours Peach and Mango will be available in the coming months, and all four flavours are available for in-store purchase exclusively at 7-Eleven outlets until February 2027.
